Justice News

Martin Woman Sentenced For Controlled Substance Distribution

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Martin, South Dakota woman convicted of distribution of a controlled substance was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken on March 1, 2013.

Claudia Jeanine Apple, age 45, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment, 6 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund.

On January 31, 2012 Apple distributed 15 Ritalin pills within 1,000 feet of a school at Martin. Apple pled guilty to the charge on October 24, 2012.

This case was part of Operation Prairie Pharm, a controlled substances investigation conducted by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, whose member agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the Pierre Police Department, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe – Department of Public Safety. The Bennett County Sheriff’s Office and Martin Police Department also assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Shattuck.